Carter escapes with fine

NEWS: All Black great Dan Carter was fined just €1000 when he appeared in a French court on drink driving charges in October, according to recently released court documents AFP has seen.

The 35-year-old two-time World Cup winner, who plays at Paris club Racing 92, was arrested in February on charges that can carry custodial sentences of two years.

Carter, who played 112 Tests for New Zealand, lost a sponsorship over the incident, which dented his image as one of rugby's most marketable players.

The athlete was pulled over and breathalysed in Paris' chic 17th arrondissement and returned a reading showing a level of 0.87mg/l, which would normally see a driver lose six points from their licence.

"It would not seem necessary, given the slight gravity of the facts, to pronounce a prison sentence," the document from October reads.

"Much as I'd love to say I've moved on from it, it's something I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life," Carter said in October.